aggressive ball python

ok, so on sunday my ball python bit me because i accidentally hurt him, but i didn’t think much of it. Just now I reached in to touch him, and he struck at me, though luckily I moved in time. I put on two pairs of gloves because now I’m wary and tried touching him again, making sure he saw me before I did, and he looked like he was getting ready to strike. He's always been extremely docile, but now I'm worried. What's going on? (I feed him one mouse every Sunday, he recently finished shedding, and he’s 2 years old. I've had him since he was 4 months.)

What do you mean by you hurt him? Is the snake injured? An injured snake is going to be defensive.

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Originally Posted by damientheballpython

ok, so on sunday my ball python bit me because i accidentally hurt him, but i didn’t think much of it. Just now I reached in to touch him, and he struck at me, though luckily I moved in time. I put on two pairs of gloves because now I’m wary and tried touching him again, making sure he saw me before I did, and he looked like he was getting ready to strike. He's always been extremely docile, but now I'm worried. What's going on? (I feed him one mouse every Sunday, he recently finished shedding, and he’s 2 years old. I've had him since he was 4 months.)

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You are underfeeding the animal for starters.. Also, how did you hurt him??

No no, I mean I was wearing a fluffy jacket and it got caught on some remaining shed that was sticking up so I accidentally pulled some of the shed

Oh, that's too little? How much should I feed him? And it wasn't an injury he just had some shed sticking up and I was wearing a fluffy jacket that got caught and tugged on it

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Originally Posted by damientheballpython

Oh, that's too little? How much should I feed him? And it wasn't an injury he just had some shed sticking up and I was wearing a fluffy jacket that got caught and tugged on it

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My males take small rats 45-65 grams once a week. A mouse is around 15-20 max.. How much does he weigh? Any pictures?

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Originally Posted by damientheballpython

Oh, that's too little? How much should I feed him? And it wasn't an injury he just had some shed sticking up and I was wearing a fluffy jacket that got caught and tugged on it

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Yeah. I don't think this is the issue. Brings up a lot of other questions however.. Stuck shed, hydration, temps etc.. I'd love to see a weight though..

also, I should add, yesterday when I got home from soccer it looked like his head was shaking? But I was very tired and I could've been imagining it. (btw he is NOT a spider morph) and I'm probably just being paranoid but I feel like he's moving weirdly

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also, I should add, yesterday when I got home from soccer it looked like his head was shaking? But I was very tired and I could've been imagining it. (btw he is NOT a spider morph) and I'm probably just being paranoid but I feel like he's moving weirdly

The snake may just be a bit spooked and need a little time. I wouldn't sweat it.

As for the food size, yes a mouse is too small. The snake should be on small rats by now.

Can you tell us about your setup?

Enclosure type? Size?
How are you heating the enclosure?
What are your temps? Humidity?

I'd check the temperatures... Stuck shed and head shaking could mean overheating, undernourished or dehydrated.. All could be causes for you getting tagged when you go in there..

I don't know how much he weighs and I'm kinda nervous to pick him up right now

When picking up your snake, be confident. Constantly putting your hand in and pulling it away could seem like a bird swooping down, which would cause a defensive response (as it sees your hand as a predator/ threat)
Also whenever you get time could you tell us your enclosure setup?
Ie, temp on warm and cold side, humidity, type of heat like heat pad or heat lamp, etc

His shed is gone now, the current temperature is 83 on the warm side and 70 on the cold. I have trouble keeping humidity, but I recently got a humidifier (not a snake one specifically, but I keep it next to his enclosure) and that's helping. I keep a water bowl in there big enough to soak (though he doesn't do that) and I keep it filled. I also soak him in warm water once a week.

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Oh gosh, thanks!

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Originally Posted by damientheballpython

I don't know how much he weighs and I'm kinda nervous to pick him up right now

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:rofl:I truly admire your honesty here.. Can you just snap a picture maybe? We should be able to tell size by that give or take a "few" grams..

Alright, the warm side is currently 83 (which I know is too cold, I'm adjusting it) and the cold is 70. He has a water bowl, a stick to climb on, and on the cold side a plastic rock big enough for him to crawl into. On the warm side he has a wooden hide with a heat pad under it. I also have a heat lamb above the warm side, and a light that produces some heat on the cool side. The humidity is currently 30 which I am trying to fix, I have a lot of trouble keeping humidity.

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Originally Posted by damientheballpython

Alright, the warm side is currently 83 (which I know is too cold, I'm adjusting it) and the cold is 70. He has a water bowl, a stick to climb on, and on the cold side a plastic rock big enough for him to crawl into. On the warm side he has a wooden hide with a heat pad under it. I also have a heat lamb above the warm side, and a light that produces some heat on the cool side. The humidity is currently 30 which I am trying to fix, I have a lot of trouble keeping humidity.

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VERY IMPORTANT questions here... Is the heat pad in the enclosure? What thermostat are you using? Once again, pictures will go a long way to helping you out... Use the tapatalk app.. Its easy

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...-l75-ft-l75-ftI'm trying. This is my first time using this site and I'm having trouble.

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Originally Posted by Moose84

VERY IMPORTANT questions here... Is the heat pad in the enclosure? What thermostat are you using? Once again, pictures will go a long way to helping you out... Use the tapatalk app.. Its easy

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Alright, I got the app. The heating pad is under the enclosure outside the glass, the thermostat is Zoomed. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...bac6208a91.jpg


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Originally Posted by Moose84

:rofl:I truly admire your honesty here.. Can you just snap a picture maybe? We should be able to tell size by that give or take a "few" grams..

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...87a3b430f4.jpg
(my hand for scale)


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Ok, your temps need to come WAY UP!!!

Your cool side should be 78-79 and never lower than 75. Your hot spot should be 88-89.

Is your heat mat inside or outside the enclosure?? And are your mat and lamps regulated by a thermostat???

Once we get the temp issues sorted I'll help you get that humidity up too, but first things first...

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Ok, your temps need to come WAY UP!!!

Your cool side should be 78-79 and never lower than 75. Your hot spot should be 88-89.

Is your heat mat inside or outside the enclosure?? And are your mat and lamps regulated by a thermostat???

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okay, i’m fixing it. the heat mat is outside. there is a thermometer inside the cage but nothing is automatic


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Should I attempt to pick him up?


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Originally Posted by damientheballpython

Should I attempt to pick him up?


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Right now focus on getting your husbandry right. There will be plenty of time for handling later.
When temps are off like that the animal gets stressed. So hold off on handling for now.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Right now focus on getting your husbandry right. There will be plenty of time for handling later.
When temps are off like that the animal gets stressed. So hold off on handling for now.

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ok. thanks. aaaaaa im just worried


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Originally Posted by damientheballpython

ok. thanks. aaaaaa im just worried


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It's ok.. You are working through it.. The animal looks small by not emaciated... But like they are saying you need to work on the temps.. Do you have a thermostat hooked up to regulate the belly heat? Not to be confused with a thermometer in the tank..

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Originally Posted by Moose84

It's ok.. You are working through it.. The animal looks small by not emaciated... But like they are saying you need to work on the temps.. Do you have a thermostat hooked up to regulate the belly heat? Not to be confused with a thermometer in the tank..

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no, i dont.


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You will want to get on that pretty quick.. I would venture to guess the animal is too cold on cool side and the belly heat is too much.. I use mostly heat tape but I have a few of those pads like you have for the QT rack.. They can get in excess of 125 degrees..

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Originally Posted by Moose84

You will want to get on that pretty quick.. I would venture to guess the animal is too cold on cool side and the belly heat is too much.. I use mostly heat tape but I have a few of those pads like you have for the QT rack.. They can get in excess of 125 degrees..

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sorry, im not sure what those last two sentences are referring to? whats a QT rack? and whats 125 degrees


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guys hes moving rly weird im rly scared he keeps changing directions and not rly doing much and then ill see him shake and a few minutes ago his back area was moving weird im rly rly scared is he ok??? god i wish i could upload video


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Originally Posted by damientheballpython

sorry, im not sure what those last two sentences are referring to? whats a QT rack? and whats 125 degrees


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Forget about that.. I was referring to the pad you have underneath and without a thermostat can get really hot.. Can you move the animal to a warmer area of the house? Maybe where the ambient temperatures are higher? This animal has been eating regularly right? I think he's just confused.. He can't regulate his temperatures.. He is too hot on side and too cold on the other..

ok i sprayed with a mister some water to see how he would react and he didnt dive into his hide like he normally does hes still moving weird!! hes moving backword and rly slow and he JUST now as im typing stretched his neck out but nlt even fully whats happening


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Originally Posted by Moose84

Forget about that.. I was referring to the pad you have underneath and without a thermostat can get really hot.. Can you move the animal to a warmer area of the house? Maybe where the ambient temperatures are higher? This animal has been eating regularly right? I think he's just confused.. He can't regulate his temperatures.. He is too hot on side and too cold on the other..

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i ordered a thermostat. i cant move him. im adjusting his tempatures


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What kind of substrate do you have him on?

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Originally Posted by Moose84

What kind of substrate do you have him on?

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coco soft


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Originally Posted by damientheballpython

coco soft


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At this point there is a lot that needs to change.. You need to get his temperatures right and make sure he is hydrated.. Im not sure how much help we can be without those things corrected.. Based off what you have said however the animal apparently is still on food even though its not enough... Do you notice any noises coming from him or any mucous around his mouth/nose area?

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Originally Posted by Moose84

At this point there is a lot that needs to change.. You need to get his temperatures right and make sure he is hydrated.. Im not sure how much help we can be without those things corrected.. Based off what you have said however the animal apparently is still on food even though its not enough... Do you notice any noises coming from him or any mucous around his mouth/nose area?

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is there something wrong with the bedding?? and no, nothing.


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no.. Just asking questions.. This seems rather acute and I wanted to make sure you didn't just throw him on cedar bedding or something..

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Originally Posted by Moose84

no.. Just asking questions.. This seems rather acute and I wanted to make sure you didn't just throw him on cedar bedding or something..

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oh gosh no. ok, thanks


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https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-With-Pictures!

Here's a thread to a proper tank set up.. I don't use tanks but the temps are the same for a rack... You have to get your temps and humidity right and go from there...

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Originally Posted by Moose84

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-With-Pictures!

Here's a thread to a proper tank set up.. I don't use tanks but the temps are the same for a rack... You have to get your temps and humidity right and go from there...

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alright, thanks!


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Just a thought, but could you go onto YouTube and search videos for a snake displaying similar movements and behavior?
Although not your snake it may give us a better idea of what your snake is doing?

You'd be able to share the link here

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Just a thought, but could you go onto YouTube and search videos for a snake displaying similar movements and behavior?
Although not your snake it may give us a better idea of what your snake is doing?

You'd be able to share the link here

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i looked on youtube, i couldnt find anything that mimicked what he was doing


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My guess is the snake is doing its best to thermoregulate and its stuck in limbo... Its too hot on the hot side (belly heat) and two cold when he moves to the other side.. Without a temp gun or a stat its almost impossible to tell however..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Moose84

My guess is the snake is doing its best to thermoregulate and its stuck in limbo... Its too hot on the hot side (belly heat) and two cold when he moves to the other side.. Without a temp gun or a stat its almost impossible to tell however..

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ive ordered the temperature regulator, thank you


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Ok, sounds like now it's just a matter of wait and see.

Until your new equipment arrives try to leave him alone. The more time he spends hidden the better.

Once you get your new equipment let us know if you need help setting it up.

If any new developments arise please keep us posted.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Ok, sounds like now it's just a matter of wait and see.

Until your new equipment arrives try to leave him alone. The more time he spends hidden the better.

Once you get your new equipment let us know if you need help setting it up.

If any new developments arise please keep us posted.

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will do! thanks for the help


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Just a suggestion but to help with humidity you can cover almost the whole top of the screen top with aluminum foil. This will help keep the humidity from escaping, it may also help keep some of the heat in. I use a glass tank too. It may also help to cover three sides of the tank with paper to black it out and or insulation to help with the heat. Since I took the picture below I also have added insulation board around three sides and covered a little more of the top with foil. This has helped greatly with heat and humidity. Very important to get all heat sources on a thermostat and a heat gun (you can buy one for like 10 bucks on Amazon) makes it easy to spot check your temps daily so you know they are accurate. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a238263678.jpg

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Thank you!!!


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good news!!!! hes still acting a bit odd, but i picked him up, and hes chill! tbh i think part of the issue is i have clinical anxiety so i just rly nervous and started over thinking everything. ill update if anything happens!


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